Banana Skins and the Countryside
Q. Hi
Last time I was in the Yorkshire Dales I absently tossed my banana skin over a wall only to be (good humouredly) admonished by my walking pals that is does not do the countryside any good.
Is this true?
Surely since banana skins are organic matter and bio-degradeable they will just rot into the soil providing much needed nutrients?
Thanks,
Jamie Elkstone, Richmond
A. Banana skins, orange peel, apple cores and bread crusts are all litter
Here's why you really should take these things home (they're usually lighter than when you brought them out at this point anyway - so you can't complain about the weight.)
- The stuff will rot and will improve the soil. This might, at first, seem like a good thing to do. If, however, you are a rare alpine or arctic plant humming gently to yourself in the breeze on the top of an English mountain, the very last thing you want is for somebody to come and feed the local grass which will grow quickly and shade you out in no time. The stuff you drop takes a long time to rot anyway, particularly in winter.
- The hills do have a resident population of rats, crows, gulls and so on - especially in areas popular with people - because they know that people are incontinent of food. Feeding these will increase their numbers, and they, in turn, will eat wild bird eggs and chicks. Not feeding them will help them achieve a more natural balance. In terms of rodents - they are inside that summit cairn you were sitting on last weekend you know - its by no means too cold for them up on Scafell Pike. Its an easy life - the food just drops through the stones.
- Its a dirty, unsightly, horrible habit and a bad example to children, so don't do it.
Mike Knipe, Crook
Add your answer to THIS question | Ask a NEW walking and hiking question
Return to the main list of Walking and Hiking Questions
Search for an existing Walking and Hiking Question or Answer
To contribute to go4awalk.com or to contact us about anything at all - see Talk To Us. For help see Help.
go4awalk.com and go4awalk.co.uk are registered trademarks of TMDH Limited.
Copyright © 2000-2024 TMDH Limited. All rights reserved.
Copyright | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement
A - Z
Walks
Home
Log On/Accounts
Photo Gallery
Walk Ideas and Collections
Fell Facts
Places to Stay
Hill Skills
Walking Questions and Answers
Your Stories
News
Competitions
Product Reviews/Gear Tests
Walking Gear Guides
Peaks and Mountains
Peak Bagging
Find New Walking Friends
Camping
GPS Waypoints for Walking
Walk Search
Talk to us
go4awalk.com Help
Free example walks
Newsletter
